Chapter 69:
Seo Jae-yi felt a strange mix of emotions.
She had entered countless dungeons, but never with an exclusive Guide by her side. Kwon Yi-soo, her most compatible Guide, couldn’t enter dungeons due to his position.
And she couldn’t bring other, less compatible Guides because she was an S-rank Esper suffering from Guiding deficiency.
Baek Joo-won’s offer to accompany her touched her deeply. She felt a lump in her throat, realizing she finally had a Guide who would say such things to her.
She was genuinely happy.
“No.”
But she had to be rational. Seo Jae-yi firmly refused.
“Why?”
“I was debating whether to tell you or not, but I think you should know, as you’re the one involved. It seems like you affect not only Espers but also monsters.”
Baek Joo-won frowned, as if she was spouting nonsense.
“The monsters were unusually agitated during our last dungeon practice run, remember? We thought it was because of the drug-laced moss, but the tests didn’t detect any such substance.”
“So?”
“But I saw it. The boss monster kept staring at you until its dying breath.”
The eyes of the boss Greenroll, filled with hunger and greed.
The intensity of its gaze was unforgettable. She had faced countless monsters, but she had never encountered one with such a desperate, longing gaze.
It had only wanted Baek Joo-won.
“So please don’t enter dungeons anymore.”
“Oh dear.”
Baek Joo-won clicked his tongue, seemingly surprised by her unexpected words.
“It’s fine as long as you don’t enter dungeons, so don’t worry.”
Seo Jae-yi patted his shoulder reassuringly.
He stared at her for a moment and sighed.
“The purpose of this dungeon raid is to collect new dungeon plants, so it won’t be dangerous. But can I ask you a favor?”
“What is it?”
“The Center Head told me not to enter dungeons if my level exceeds 40. So could you Guide me if it gets close to that?”
His training would be over soon. He would then have to decide where he was going.
It was a plea, asking her to choose Haeil.
Seo Jae-yi looked at him, a rare hint of nervousness in her eyes.
If he showed any signs of rejecting her, even jokingly changing the subject, she would slowly let him go.
She wouldn’t cling to him, wouldn’t let her Esper instincts bind him.
As she unconsciously clenched her fists, Baek Joo-won spoke.
“I’ll consider it positively if you don’t come back injured this time. I don’t want to see an injured Esper every time.”
Seo Jae-yi’s eyes widened at his unexpected answer.
She had only expected him to say he would think about it, but he had given her a positive response.
She was so happy that she couldn’t help but smile brightly.
“Yes! I’ll be back after carefully collecting only dungeon plants!”
“I doubt the word ‘carefully’ applies to you, but let’s just say that for now.”
A gentle smile appeared on Baek Joo-won’s lips.
Seo Jae-yi, captivated by his smile, couldn’t take her eyes off him. She didn’t even turn her head when someone entered the training room.
Therefore, she didn’t notice that it was Gong Ju-hyun, and that he was glaring at them.
***
The morning of Seo Jae-yi’s long-awaited return to dungeon subjugation.
Baek Joo-won, who had come to the Center for his usual training, was met by Han Sung-woo, Center Head Kwon Yi-soo’s secretary, instead of the familiar instructor.
He was informed that Kwon Yi-soo was waiting for him.
It seemed like the time had come.
“Hello.”
As he entered the Center Head’s office, Kwon Yi-soo got straight to the point. It was the topic Baek Joo-won had been expecting.
“I heard your training is almost over. It’s time for you to make a decision, Baek Joo-won.”
Stay at the Center, join a Guild, or go to a third country, neither Korea nor the US.
“Can we expect you to stay in Korea?”
Baek Joo-won hesitated for a moment at his direct question and then nodded.
“Yes. I’ve decided to stay in Korea.”
“That’s a relief. Nothing is more troublesome than losing a valuable S-rank Guide to another country. Your presence in Korea will be a great help.”
“I haven’t said whether I’ll stay at the Center or join a Guild.”
“Either is fine.”
That was unexpected.
“I thought you wanted me to stay at the Center.”
“I did. But…”
Kwon Yi-soo closed his eyes briefly, as if making a decision, or perhaps accepting something.
“…Now is not the time to be concerned with trivial matters. There are more important things. You’ve already decided which Guild you’re joining, haven’t you?”
Baek Joo-won nodded. It wasn’t entirely accurate, but he wouldn’t be staying at the Center.
“Don’t change your mind.”
Baek Joo-won couldn’t understand what Kwon Yi-soo was thinking. Other humans usually revealed their desires, but Kwon Yi-soo had never done so.
He was good at hiding his true intentions.
He preferred Seo Jae-yi’s approach, who didn’t hide anything. Or maybe she was too expressive.
“The government seems to have a different opinion. What are you going to do about that? The Prime Minister actually summoned me.”
“I know. But does the government’s opinion matter to you?”
“Of course not.”
Why would it matter to him, a non-Korean?
“But doesn’t it matter to you, Center Head?”
Kwon Yi-soo frowned, as if offended by the question.
“That’s ridiculous. The government, who benefits from me, should follow my will, not the other way around. I became the Center Head to avoid taking orders from anyone.”
It was an arrogant statement, but it was true.
Why would he, the Guiding Center Head who also controlled the Esper Association, be a dog of the government?
“They can’t do anything to me. No Esper can harm me.”
Baek Joo-won knew that too.
Kwon Yi-soo’s absolute power stemmed from his ability.
That was why Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong couldn’t do anything to him, despite their animosity.
And this was the Guiding Center, filled with Espers who were loyal to Kwon Yi-soo more than their own lives. No one could harm him.
He wasn’t called a dictator for nothing.
“I can guess your choice, but please let me know once you’ve made a firm decision.”
Baek Joo-won nodded at Kwon Yi-soo’s words.
He had been a bit worried, but he was relieved that Kwon Yi-soo, unlike the government, wouldn’t obstruct him.
“And one piece of advice.”
Kwon Yi-soo stopped Baek Joo-won, who was about to leave.
“You might already know, but a young Guide is very interested in Seo Jae-yi.”
He immediately understood who he was referring to.
Gong Ju-hyun. The A-rank Guide with a mere 48% Matching Rate who was targeting Seo Jae-yi.
“He’s accompanying her on Haeil Guild’s dungeon subjugation today.”
That was unexpected.
“If you don’t want to lose her, it would be best to make up your mind as soon as possible.”
“…”
“Don’t take it lightly. It’s from experience.”
Baek Joo-won looked at him strangely, unsure of the meaning of his last words, and then simply replied,
“I’ll keep your advice in mind.”
His expression hardened the moment he left the Center Head’s office.
He had found it annoying before, but now Gong Ju-hyun was openly interfering. And he had even followed Seo Jae-yi to a dungeon, the location of which he didn’t even know.
‘The flower shop must be closed without Airok.’
He stopped walking, his destination unknown. His hand, running through his hair, was rough.
He couldn’t stand the annoyance. And this emotion was both unfamiliar and amusing.
He hadn’t anticipated this situation when he left his home. His plans had been completely disrupted.
But he didn’t care. He just wanted to get rid of this annoying, unpleasant feeling.
Baek Joo-won, after a brief pause, resumed his stride.
Towards the one he was starting to recognize as his Esper, even though he didn’t know where she was.
***
Everything had been perfect from the morning.
Seo Jae-yi woke up before her alarm even rang and rushed to the shop to have a hearty breakfast with Airok. She was in a good mood, her appetite strong.
She changed into her combat uniform, carefully loaded her weapons into her harness, and slung a large crossbody bag over her shoulder.
“Let’s go, Logi.”
Only Kim Yoo-sung knew about Airok, so she planned to sneak him into the dungeon in her bag.
“Are you uncomfortable? I laid a cloth on the bottom, just in case.”
“No, not at all! The cloth is soft and comfortable.”
Fortunately, Airok’s voice from inside the bag was cheerful.
“You like it? That’s good. It’s probably made from the fur of a Conical Antelope.”
“Ah, this is that.”
“Yes. It was about five years ago? The Association guys were yelling at me to capture it intact because the fur was expensive. They shouldn’t have called me if they wanted it that way.”
“Gasp. You caught a Conical Antelope without using your ability? Their attack power is quite high!”
Conical Antelopes were large, aggressive Rank 3 monsters with a strong destructive urge.
They were notoriously difficult to handle because of their two horns, which rotated like drills. Their fur was expensive because it was difficult to capture them without damaging the fur.
“Their attack power weakens without horns. So I broke them. They snapped off easily when I applied some force.”
“Those horns are incredibly hard…”
They wouldn’t break just from applying force…
Airok, realizing anew that Seo Jae-yi was an S-rank Esper, silently stroked the soft fur.
Never mess with Master.
Seo Jae-yi, oblivious to Airok’s resolution, headed towards Haeil headquarters.